Chrysanthemum plant named &#39;dlfalma3&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFALMA3’, characterized by its upright plant habit; uniform growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform and freely flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems; single-type inflorescences with pale purple-colored ray florets; resistance to  Fusarium ; relative tolerance to low production temperatures; and good postproduction longevity.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Oct. 17, 2020

Ser. No. 63/093,198

Inventor/Applicant hereby claims the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFALMA3’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

A Columbian Plant Breeder's Rights application for the instant plant was filed by the Assignee, Deliflor Royalties B. V. of Maasdijk, The Netherlands on Aug. 2, 2020, application number A202700. Foreign priority is not claimed to this application.

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exception under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFALMA3’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum x morifolium ‘DLFALMA1’, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within a population of plants of ‘DLFALMA1’ in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in November, 2018.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since November, 2018 in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFALMA3’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFALMA3’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; uniform growth habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems.     -   5. Single-type inflorescences with pale purple-colored ray         florets.     -   6. Resistant to Fusarium (Fusarium oxysporum).     -   7. Relatively tolerant to low production temperatures.     -   8. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of the mutation parent, ‘DLFALMA1’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are pale purple in color whereas ray florets of plants of ‘DLFALMA1’ are white in color.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFETO3’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘DLFETO3’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are lighter purple in color than ray florets of plants of ‘DLFETO3’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph at the top of the sheet (FIG. 1) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stein of ‘DLFALMA3’ grown as a spray-type cut flower.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet (FIG. 2) is a close-up view of upper (left) and lower (right) surfaces of typical inflorescences (top of figure) and typical leaves (bottom of figure) of ‘DLFALMA3’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the autumn in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 22° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem spray-type plants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFALMA3’. -   Parentage: Naturally-occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum     x morifolium ‘DLFALMA1’, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 13 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 15 days             at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically light brown in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous single-type cut flower             that is typically grown as a single stein spray-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 60             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 66.4 cm.         -   Plant (spray) diameter.—About 20.7 cm.         -   Flowering stein length.—About 58.7 cm.         -   Flowering stein diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Flowering stein internode length.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Flowering stein strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stein aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stein texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stein color, developing.—Close to 143B.         -   Flowering stein color, developed.—Close to 146A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 10.7 cm. Width: About 7 cm. Shape, in overall outline:             Broadly ovate. Apex: Abruptly acute, minute. Base:             Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed, coarsely dentate to             serrate; sinuses convergent to parallel and shallow to             medium in depth. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Moderately to densely pubescent, not rugose; moderately             velvety; slightly glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately to densely pubescent, prominent venation;             slightly velvety; slightly glossy. Venation pattern:             Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing leaves, upper             surface: Close to NN137A. Developing leaves, lower surface:             Close to between 138A and 147B. Fully developed leaves,             upper surface: Close to between NN137A and 147A; venation,             close to 147B. Fully developed leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 146B. Petioles: Length: About             7 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 4 mm. Strength: Moderately             strong. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Moderately pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146B to 146C; edges, close to NN137B. Stipules:             Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules, opposite, at             the petiole attachment to the stein. Length: About 6 mm.             Width: About 4 mm. Shape, in overall outline: Roughly ovate.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Moderately             densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface:             Close to between NN137A and 147A. Color, lower surface:             Close to 147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Single-type inflorescence form with obovate to             elliptic-shaped ray florets and tubular disc florets;             inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and face             upright to about 25° from vertical; ray and disc florets             develop acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; typical of Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             50 days later when grown as a spray-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity;             after a seven-day storage period, cut flowers will maintain             good color and substance for about two weeks in an interior             environment; inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Typically grown as a spray-type,             about 31 inflorescences develop per flowering stein.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter, grown as a spray-type: About             6.8 cm. Depth (height), grown as a spray-type: About 3 cm.             Disc diameter, grown as a spray-type: About 1.4 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 7 mm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145A and 145C.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About             1.4 cm. Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Moderately             pubescent; slightly glossy. Color: Developing involucral             bracts, close to NN137B and 138A; developing ray florets,             close to 75C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 26 arranged in             about two whorls. Length: About 3.6 cm, varying between 3.4             cm and 3.8 cm. Width: About 1.4 cm, varying between 1.3 cm             and 1.5 mm. Shape: Obovate to elliptic; slightly convex,             moderately carinate and slightly twisting. Apex: Shallowly             praemorse. Base: Cuneate and fused at the base. Margin:             Entire; not undulate. Aspect: About 10° to 25° from             vertical. Texture and luster, upper surface: Smooth,             glabrous; moderately velvety; matte. Texture and luster,             lower surface: Smooth, glabrous; slightly velvety; slightly             glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close to between             75D and 76D. When opening, lower surface: Close to between             76D and N155B. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to between             N155B and NN155D; venation, close to between N155B and             NN155D; color does not change with subsequent development.             Fully opened, lower surface: Close to N155B; venation, close             to N155B; color does not change with subsequent development.         -   Disc florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 130 at the             center of the receptacle. Length: About 5 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Shape: Lower 80% fused into a tube; upper 20%             free. Apex: Acute. Margin, free-part: Entire. Texture and             luster, inner and outer surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; glossy.             Color, when opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to             157B; proximally, close to 145D and at the apex, close to             2B. Color, fully opening, inner and outer surfaces: Close to             157B; proximally, close to 145D and at the apex, close to             2B.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 18             arranged in about two whorls. Length: About 8 mm. Width:             About 5.5 mm. Shape: Broadly ovate. Apex: Obtuse. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Moderately pubescent; matte. Color, upper surface: Close to             146A; lateral margins, translucent and close to 145C to 145D             and apical margins tinged with close to N199A. Color, lower             surface: Close to NN137A; lateral margins, translucent and             close to 145C to 145D and apical margins tinged with close             to N199A.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.9 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 2.5 mm. Length, third             peduncle: About 6.2 cm. Diameter, third peduncle: About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Upright.             Aspect, third peduncle: About 45° from the flowering stein             axis. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent; moderately             glossy. Color: Close to 137A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets             only. Quantity: About five per floret. Filament length:             About 2 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther size:             About 0.5 mm by 1.5 mm. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther color:             Close to 151B. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: Close to             14A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.             Quantity: One per floret. Pistil length: About 5 mm. Style             length: About 4.5 mm. Style color: Close to 145A. Stigma             diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Cleft to three-parted,             decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 151D. Ovary color: Close             to 157A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be resistant to Fusarium Wilt (Fusarium oxysporum     spp. chrysanthemi (strain FoNL1)). To date, plants of the new     Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be resistant to pests and     other pathogens common to Chrysanthemum plants grown under     commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFALMA3’ as illustrated and described. 